• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-469
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• 2010

This research is performed to obtain positive evidences of Mori cortex, a kind of oriental medicinal herbs, in the cellular levels. The extracts of M. cortex have shown anti-inflammatory effects against cutaneous inflammation and clinical effects on pulmonary asthma and congestion in oriental medicine. Thus BV2 cells were chosen because microglia are considered as the main immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation of cultured BV2 cells and subsequent release of nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were effectively suppressed by methylene chloride extract of Morus alba L. (MEMA). From the inflammation-mediated mRNA and protein analyses, we showed that inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced by LPS were markedly decreased by MEMA treatment. From the observation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-${\kappa}B$) which is controlling and mediating inflammation through COX-2 and iNOS, there showed that p65, a subunit of NF-${\kappa}B$, was increased in nuclear and $I{\kappa}B$, a competitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, was recovered in cytosol after MEMA treatment. These are corresponding with results of iNOS, COX-2, IL-$1{\kappa}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, and confirm some suppressive effect against transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory action of M. cortex against BV2 microglia cells is expected to protect nerve tissues through suppression of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of methyl gallate of Paeonia suffruticosa(Moutan Cortex Radicis) on inflammatory response in activated macrophages. Methods : RAW264.7 cells were incubated with different concentrations of methyl gallate of Paeonia suffruticosa for 30 min and then stimulated with or without LPS at indicated times. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6) were measured in culture medium by Griess assay, enzyme-immuno assay, and ELISA, respectively. The expressions of iNOS, COX-2 and cytokine mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ degradation in cytosol and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 translocation into nuclear of the cells were determined by Western blot. Results : Methyl gallate was significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO and PGE2 in RAW264.7 cells. Methyl gallate was also suppressed LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein in the cells. Methyl gallate was inhibited LPS-induced production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 via suppression of their mRNA expressions. Methyl gallate blocked the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions : This study suggests that methyl gallate of Paeonia suffruticosa may have an antiinflammatory property through suppressing inflammatory mediator production in activated macrophages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.415-421
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• 2008

Pro-inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2), play pivotal roles in normal as well as transformed cells. Previous studies have shown that Euphorbiae humifusae Wind exhibits anti-proliferative and antioxidant activities. However, the it's anti-inflammatory properties are unclear. In this study, we examine the effects of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) on the expression of COX-2 and the production of $PGE_2$ in human lymphatic U937 cells. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in U937 cells. However, pretreatment WEEH markedly inhibited the PMA-induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, WEEH prevented the elevated early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) expression and nuclear factor-kappaB ($NF{-\kappa}B\; p65$) nuclear translocation stimulated by PMA treatment. Taken together, the present data indicate that WEEH exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the $NF{-\kappa}B$ and Egr-1 signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.532-537
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• 2012

Avicularin, quercetin-3-${\alpha}$-L-arabinofuranoside, has been reported to possess diverse pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects. However, the underlying mechanism by which avicularin exerts its anti-inflammatory activity has not been clearly demonstrated. This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of avicularin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Avicularin significantly inhibited LPS-induced excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and $PGE_2$ and the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2, which are responsible for the production of NO and $PGE_2$, respectively. Avicularin also suppressed LPS-induced overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-$1{\beta}$. Furthermore, avicularin significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of $I{\kappa}B$, which retains NF-${\kappa}B$ in the cytoplasm, consequently inhibiting the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes by NF-${\kappa}B$ in the nucleus. To understand the underlying signaling mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of avicularin, involvement of multiple kinases was examined. Avicularin significantly attenuated LPS-induced activation of ERK signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, the present study clearly demonstrates that avicularin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of ERK signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.54-64
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• 2013

Objectives : Stevia rebaudiana is a well-known herbal sweetener in the Korea, Japan and China, and its medical uses were originated from countries in South America. Although it has been shown the various medical effects of S. rebaudiana including contraception and treatment of human diseases such as hyperglycemia, it has almost not been studied about the efficacy of S. rebaudiana methanolic extract (SRE) on the acute inflammation and its action mechanism. Methods : To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of SRE, we treated SRE and examined the level of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Results : Treatment of macrophage with LPS markedly induced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pretreatment of SRE blocked the induction of inflammatory mediators and the expression of iNOS protein. More importantly, LPS-induced phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ was suppressed by the treatment of SRE, suggesting SRE inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, SRE blocked LPS-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs. Conclusions : SRE inhibited the induction of NO, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Raw264.7 cells. SRE's effect may be mediated with its inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and MAPK phosphorylation, which suggests its uses as an anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.310-318
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• 2010

Dioscorea bulbifera is one of the traditional medicinal herb. It commonly used in the treatment of hematemesis, epistaxis, tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis, laryngitis, acute infectious disease in East Asia. In the present study, we have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of Dioscorea bulbifera MeOH extract (DBME) in macrophage cell line. To investigate mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity, we examined the effects of the lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), pro-inflammatory cytokines and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), p-inhibitory ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ (p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$), and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) in a murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in DMEM + serum medium for 24 hrs. After serum starvation for 24 hrs, the cells were treated with DBME 0.03, 0.10, 0.30 mg/$m{\ell}$ for 1 h, followed by stimulation with LPS (1 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) for activation of immune response. After treatment, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The protein band of iNOS, COX-2, p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and NF-${\kappa}B$ was determined by immunoblot analysis and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. There were three experimental groups: carrageenan, DBME 0.3, 1.0 g/kg. Rats were administrated either carrageenan (40% PEG) or carrageenan + DBME (0.3, 1.0 g/kg body weight) for 4 days (p.o.). To induce acute paw edema, rats were injected 1% carrageenan (100 ${\mu}{\ell}$/rat, dissolved in sterilized saline). The effect of DBME in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. As results, DBME has an inhibitory effect on the production of NO, PGE2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 and on the expression of iNOS, COX-2, p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ to nuclear from cytosol. In addition, DBME effectively inhibited the increases of paw edema induced by carrageenan treatment in vivo. These results suggest that DBME can inhibit production of pro-inflammatory mediators and might be a useful source for treatment of acute inflammatory disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1527-1534
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermented black garlic (FBG) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. FBG did not show cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations less than $800{\mu}g/mL$, and cell viability increased with FBG concentration. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production as well as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and IL-6 formation decreased in an FBG concentration-dependent manner, in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, activation of LPS-inducible nitric synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$), and inhibitory kappa B ($I{\kappa}B$) protein expression was effectively inhibited by FBG treatment in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In contrast, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression significantly increased. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory activity of FBG was due to activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, inhibition of cytokine production, and expression of iNOS and COX-2. From these results, we expect that FBG could contribute to the prevention and improvement of inflammatory disease.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

Background: The flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos) have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of Inulae Flos Extract (IFE). Methods: The anti-inflammatory effects of IFE against nitric oxide (NO), $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6 release, as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAP kinase activation were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. Results: IFE inhibited the production of NO and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, IFE reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6. Furthermore, IFE inhibited the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by LPS, which was associated with the abrogation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and subsequent decreases in nuclear p65 and p50 levels. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAP kinases in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by IFE in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that the anti-inflammation activities of IFE might be attributed to the inhibition of NO, iNOS and cytokine expression through the down-regulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation via suppression of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and MAP kinase phosphorylation in macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2016

This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. methanol extract (VBME) on microglial activation and to identify the underlying mechanisms of action of these effects. The anti-inflammatory properties of VBME were studied using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. We measured the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory parameters. We also examined the effect of VBME on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-${\kappa}B$ p65). VBME significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO and $PGE_2$ and LPS-mediated upregulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner; importantly, VBME was not cytotoxic. VBME also significantly reduced the generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6. In addition, VBME significantly dampened intracellular ROS production and suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 translocation by blocking $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and degradation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Our findings indicate that VBME inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators in BV-2 microglial cells by suppressing NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Thus, VBME may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases due to its ability to inhibit inflammatory mediator production in activated BV-2 microglial cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2020

This study investigated a mixture of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE) extracts (ALM16), exerts anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and its underlying mechanism. ALM16 was prepared by mixing AM and LE extracts in a ratio of 7:3 (w/w). Cytotoxicity of ALM16 in RAW264.7 cells was not shown up to 200 ㎍/mL of ALM16. The results of this study showed that ALM16 does-dependently inhibits the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. ALM16 not only markedly reduced the protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, but also inhibited the nuclear translocation and DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In addition, ALM16 specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that ALM16 may exert anti-inflammatory effect by modulating mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB signaling pathways.